MailTrout: A Machine Learning Browser Extension for Detecting Phishing Emails

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to an increase in cyberattacks and cybercrime, particularly with respect to phishing attempts. Cybercrime associated with phishing emails can significantly impact victims, who may be subjected to monetary loss and identity theft. Existing anti-phishing tools do not always catch all phishing emails, leaving the user to decide the legitimacy of an email. The ability of machine learning technology to identify reoccurring patterns yet cope with overall changes complements the nature of anti-phishing techniques, as phishing attacks may vary in wording but often follow similar patterns. This paper presents a browser extension called MailTrout, which incorporates machine learning within a usable security tool to assist users in detecting phishing emails. MailTrout demonstrated high levels of accuracy when detecting phishing emails and high levels of usability for end-users. © Boyle et al. Published by BCS Learning and Development Ltd.